Method and apparatus for filling non-rigid containers



Oct. 8, 1963- w. F. LAUN 3,106,230

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING NON-RIGID CONTAINERS Filed March 14,1960 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR, WALTER F LAuN BY e W M0 AT omvmas"1963 w. F. LAUN 3,106,230

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING NON-RIGID CONTAINERS Filed March 14,1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2/ J40 v i 5 FIG. 2

AIR IN I Fl6.3

INVENTOR. WALTER F. LAUN BY 6. 97

A. TOPNEYS Oct. 8,1963 w. F. LAUN 3,106,230

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING NON-RIGID (SONTAINERS Filed March 14,1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 WALTER /-7 L4 UN INVENTOR.

ATTOPNE Y 'Ot. 8, 1-963 w F. LAUN 0 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLINGNON-RIGID CONTAINERS Filed March 14, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 AIR InINVENTOR. WALTER l-T LAUN BY 77% TTORNEYS I being filled.

3,106,230 METHOD AND APPARATUS FoR FILLING NON-RIGID CONTAINERS -WalterF. Laun, Little Falls, N.Y., assignor to Cherry- Burrell Corporation,Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 14, 1960, Ser.No. 14,575

. 5 Claims. (Cl..141-) This invention relates to a method and apparatusfor .filling containers and more particularly to a filling devicereached into those industries handling comestible products. For example,in the dairy industry the combination of a plastic bag in a cardboardbox container has found utility for storing and shipping milk and otherdairy products. This, of course, has created problems in filling thesebags. with fluid products, one difficulty being properly to support themduring filling. To overcome this difliculty, some means must be providedto hold the bag during the entire filling operation and also initiallyto suspend it to prevent a portion of the bag from becoming folded underand'not filled.

A further difiic-ulty when filling with milk is that milk will foam inthe presence of air, and the foam Will fill the bag before theful-lfluid volume is obtained, necessitating refilling. These problemshave been satisfactorily 7 bag, have been unsatisfactory.

It is therefore a principal object of my invention to provide asatisfactory filler and method for filling nonrigid containers.

It is another object of my invention to prevent the foaming that canoccurduring the filling of non-rigid containers with milk, and otherfluids that foam in the presence of air, by providing means to seal thefilling opening.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a filling device thatwill perform the function of aiding in the support of a non-rigidcontainer during the filling operation.

It is another object of my invention to provide means for temporarilylifting the bag to be filled, thereby preventingany portion of 'the bagfrom folding-under and not It is asti-ll further object of myinventionto provide a filling apparatus that is of a simple and sanitarydesign and one that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects of my invention will be readily apparent from aconsideration of the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a View showing in perspective a fillingdevice mounted onsupport means with other components to provide a filling and sealingapparatus that may be inthe air supply system for a second embodiment ofthe invention; and

United States Patent 0 "ice FIGURE 5 is a elevation view showing indetail the second embodiment of the filling device, part of the viewline (not shown). At the discharge end of the apparatus there is mounteda short conveyor 16 which, after the containers are filled, moves thempast a heat sealing apparatus 18 and then to another conveyor (notshown) for transfer to a storage or shipping area.

The filling device, indicated generally by the reference numeral 20, ismounted on an upright member 22 that is secured to the supportingstructure 10. Directly below the filling device 20 and mounted on thestructure 10 between the table 14 and the conveyor 16 is a weightmeasuring device 24. The device 24 is connected in a control system,described hereinafter, for automatically regulating the flow of milkinto the container.

As best seen in FIGURES Z'and 3, the filling device 20 consists of avalve 26 with an inflatable bladder or doughnut-shaped member 28 securedaround the discharge nozzle 30 thereof. The valve 26 has an inlet port32 adaptable for connection with a milk supply line. At its open end,the discharge nozzle 30 of valve 26 has an inwardly extending flangeformed around its entire circumference to define a valve seat 34 uponwhich seats the valve member 36. The valve member 36 is actuated by arod 38 that is connected to an air operated actuator 40, which may be ofany suitable type. However, I prefer to provide an actuator of the typedisclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 1,670,

filed January 11, 1960, entitled Reversible Actuator for' AutomaticValves.

To move the valve member 36 off its seat 34, air pressure is supplied.to the actuator 40 through an inlet opening 42 in its side therebylifting the rod 38 and unseatprefer to provide an air supply system asshown diagramrange of 35 to psi.

matically in FIGURE 2. Air under pressure is supplied to the systemthrough a main line 46. Air may be'su-pplied in this line 46 at apressure, for example, in the The air supply from the main line 46 isdivided into three branch lines 48, 50 and 52.

Lines 48 and 50 are each connected through a shuttle valve 53 to asingle air line 54 connected to the inlet 42 of the actuator 40. In thebranch lines 48 and 50 there are solenoid valves 56 and 58 respectively.In addition, line 48 contains a manually adjustable pressure reducingvalve 60 to maintain the pressure in line 48 at about 18 psi,

for example.

Branch line 52 supplies air to the inflatable member 28 by connectionwith the inlet port 44. The line 52 contains a manually adjustablepressure reducing valve 62 and a solenoid valve 64-. Also a normallyopen pressure switch 66 is connected to line 52. The pressure in line 52is preferably maintained in the order of one or two psi vice 24 directlybelow the filling device 28. The filling opening of the plastic bag isthen slipped over the inflatable member 28. To start the operation ofthe filling device 25), I prefer to provide in the electrical controlsystem of FIGURE 2A a push-button start switch 68 which when depressedwill energize the coil of an electrical relay 69 to close the relaycontacts which in turn actuates solenoid valve 64 to open it and allowair pressure to flow through the branch supply line 52 into theinflatable member 28. The pressure switch 66 is set so that when the airpressure in line 52 has completely inflated the member 28, the switch 66will close a circuit to energize the solenoid valve 58 in line 59,thereby supplying air at full line pressure through line 54 to theactuator The air pressure supplied to actuator 40 will raise the rod 38to lift the valve member 36 completely off seat 34- and allow milk toflow from discharge nozzle 30 into the bag to be filled. The member 28when inflated seals the opening of the bag so that no air can enterduring filling, and since the bags are normally supplied in a completelycollapsed condition, the-y contain little or no air. Since no air ispresent in the bag and none enters during the filling operation, foamingwill be substantially eliminated. In addition to sealing the opening ofthe bag, member 28 when inflated aids in supporting the bag so that itmay be properly filled.

The valve member 36 will remain oif seat 34 and milk will therefore besupplied to the bag until the bag is filled to the point where itsweight reaches a pre-determ-ined amount a few ounces less than the finaldesired amount. At that time, a micro switch 71 in the weight measuringdevice 24 will be actuated to de-energize the solenoid valve 58, therebyclosing off the supply of air through line 50 of the actuator 40.However, simultaneously, the solenoid valve 56 will be energized andopened to allow air to flow through branch line 48, shuttle valve 52 andthrough line 54 into the actuator 40. Because of the reducing valve 60,the pressure in line 48 is lower than that of line 50 and therefore thevalve member 36- will return part way to its seat 34, cutting down theflow of milk to a very small stream. At the same time the solenoidvalves 56 and 58 act to change the air pressure being supplied toactuator 40, solenoid valve 64 is deenergized and closes, collapsing theinflatable member 28. The seal and support provided by member 28 is nolonger necessary because the almost-full bag will now support itself.Furthermore, I have discovered that if the member is not collapsed atthis time, it may exert a lifting force on the bag and a false weightindication will be given.

In order to make the filling as accurate as possible, the small streamof milk is allowed to flow through the partially open valve 26 until thefinal weight (and thus volume) of milk is attained at which time anormally closed magnetic mercury switch 73 (FIGURE 2A) in the weightmeasuring device 24 causes the solenoid valve 56 to become de-energizedand close, thereby shutting off completely the milk flowing into thebag.

After the bag is filled, the operator must slide the container off theweight measuring device 24 onto the conveyor 16, which will then slowlymove the container to the sealing means 18 and allow the operator toseal the filler opening of the container. Also, a foot switch may beprovided to momentarily stop conveyor 16 if necessary to allow theoperator to feed the bag into the sealer 18.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, partscorresponding to those of the embodiment shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3will be given the same reference numeral followed by the subscript a.The filling device of this second embodiment, indicated generally by thereference numeral 20a, may be mounted together with sealing apparatus onsuitable supporting structure (not shown) similar to that shown inFIGURE 1 for the first embodiment.

The filling device 20a consists of a valve 26a having a discharge nozzle30a and an inlet port 32a adaptable for connection with a milk supplyline. The valve 26:: has a valve seat 34a at the end of a dischargenozzle 30a upon which seats the valve member 36a. Valve member 36a isactuated by a rod 38:: that is connected to an air-operated actuator48a.

Slideably mounted on the exterior of the discharge nozzle 38a is anannular sleeve 7 0 having an annular outwardly extending flange 71 atits top. Secured to and carried by the sleeve 70 is an inflatable member28a. The sleeve 70 is supported and operated by connection with atwo-way air-operated actuator indicated generally by the referencenumeral 72. The sleeve 70 is operatively connected to the actuator 72 bymeans of a ring '74 secured around the exterior of the sleeve 70 underannular flange 71. The ring 74 is supported by a bracket 7 6 that isconnected to the piston rod 78 of the actuator 72. The rod 78 issecurely fastened to a piston 80 slideable in the hollow cylinder 82.The cylinder 82 is closed at the top 84 and bottom 86. To move thepiston downward in cylinder 82, an inlet port 88 adapted for connectionto an air supply line 98 (FIGURE 4) is provided in the top 84.Similarly, in the side of cylinder 82 near the bottom 86 an air inlet 92is provided to allow air to be admitted under pressure to push thepiston 80 upward in the cylinder 82. Inlet 92 is adapted for connectionto an air supply line 94.

The entire actuator 72 is securely mounted on suitable supportingstructure such as that of FIGURE 5 which shows the actuator 72 securedto the filling device 2011 by means of a bracket 96.

Thus, if air under pressure is admitted through inlet 88 at the top ofcylinder 82, the piston 80 will be forced downward in cylinder 82 andcarry with it the piston rod 78. The rod 78 will in turn cause thesleeve 70 and member 28a to move downward on the exterior of thedischarge nozzle 30a. Similarly, to move the sleeve 70 and inflatablemember 28a back to their uppermost position on the discharge nozzle 30h,air under pressure can be admitted through the inlet 92 near the bottomof the actuator 72. Of course, the length of the discharge nozzle 30aand the corresponding proportional length of the cylinder 82 can bevaried to suit the requirements of the particular installation.

The diagrammatic representation of FIGURE 4 shows the air supply systemnecessary for the proper operation of the filling device of FIGURE 5.This air supply system is similar to that of FIGURE 2 except that theair supply lines necessary for operation of the actuator 72 have beenintegrated therein. Pressurized air is supplied to the system through amain line 46a. The air from the main line 46a leads to three branchlines 48a, 50a, and 52a. Line 48a has a solenoid valve 56a and apressure reducing valve 60a and leads to the inlet 42a of actuator 40athrough shuttle valve 53:: and line 54a. Air line 52a is connected tothe inlet 44a of inflatable member 28:: and contains a solenoid valve64a, :1 pressure reducing valve 62a and a pressure switch 66a. The airsupply system described so far is similar to that shown in FIGURE 2.

However, the main air line 46a also supplies air to a fourth branch line97 that leads into a 4-way solenoid valve 98. The two air pressuresupply lines 98 and 94 connect the solenoid valve 98 to the inlets 88and 92, respectively, of the actuator 72. Line 98, leading to inlet 88at the top of the actuator '72, has a pressure reducing valve 10!)therein so that movement of the piston 80 downward in the cylinder 82will be relatively slow.

The electrical control circuit of this second embodiment is similar tothe circuit of the first embodiment shown in FIGURE 2A.

Thus, to fill the plastic bag of a combination bag-box container usingthis second embodiment of my invention, the container is placed on aweight measuring device, similar to the device 24 shown in FIGURE 1,directly below the filling device 20a. The filling opening of thecontainer or bag is then slipped over the inflatable member 28a. Tostart operation of the filling device 2012, a push-button start switch(not shown, but similar to the switch 68 shown. in the circuit of FIGURE2A) is depressed to cylinder 82 when the air pressure exerted throughinlet energize solenoid valve 644; and thereby allow air under pletelyfilled. The pressure switch 66a is set so that when the member 28a hasbecome completely inflated, switch 66a 'will close a circuit to energizesolenoid valve 98 in line 97 and solenoid 58a in line 50a.

When the solenoid 58a is energized, air is admitted through the line 50athrough the shuttle valve 53a into the actuator 40a, thereby unseatingthe valve member 360! from seat 34a. Simultaneously, by reason ofsolenoid valve 98 opening, air is also admitted through line 90 intoinlet 88 at the top of actuator 72. The pressurized air being admittedthrough inlet 88 causes the piston 80 to move slowly downward in thecylinder 82, carrying with it the piston rod 78 which moves the sleeve70 and inflatable member 28a slowly down the discharge nozzle 30a. Thisaction allows the plastic bag to be lowered to and supported by theweight measuring device as it is being filled. The amount of travel ofthe inflatable member 28a down the filler discharge nozzle 30a is suchthatwhen it reaches the end of the nozzle 30a, member 28a no longersupports any of the weight of the bag.

Prior to the time the final desired weight is reached, a micro switch(not shown but similar in function to switch 71 of the circuit of FIGURE2A) in the weight switch is closing of solenoid valve 64a therebycollapsing inflatable member 28a. As in the first embodiment, thiseliminates the possibility of false weight readings due to any liftingaction on the bag by the inflatable member 28.

The last'change effected by' the micro switch is to the two-way solenoid98. When this valve 98 becomes deenergizecLthe air supply to inlet 88 ofactuator 72 is shut off and at the same time the other port in valve 98is opened to allow air from line 97 to flow through line 94 to the inlet92 at the bottom of actuator 72. The pressurized air flowing throughinlet 92 will act upon piston 80 and push it rapidly back to the top ofcylinder 82 and thereby return the inflatable member 28a to its initialuppermost position on discharge nozzle 30a.

The reduced flow of milk from nozzle 30a will continue untila mercuryswitch (not shown but similar in function to switch 73 of the circuit ofFIGURE 2A) in the weight measuring device causes the solenoid valve 56ato become de-energized, thereby shutting oif completely the flow of milkinto the bag. Thus; the filling device 20a is ready for the start ofanother filling cycle,

and the filled bag may be moved off the weight measuring '72, a singlesolenoid valve can beused if a spring is providedin cylinder 82 toreturn the piston 80 to the top of 88 has been released. In either case,the second embodiment of my invention provides a solution to the problemof the bag becoming folded under as it fills and not being completelyfilled. Also, by preventing the bag from becoming folded under itselfwhile being filled, the possibility is eliminated that the milk willoverflow by filling up the bag before the necessary Weight is reached toshut off the valve 26a.

It is thus seen that I have provided a simple, but efiicient, method andapparatus for filling non-rigid containers. tering the container duringthe filling operation and thereby eliminate foaming. Without the problemof foaming, the filling operation may proceed at a relatively rapidrate. It should be understood, however, that my filler apparatus mayalsobe used in filling rigid containers if suitable means is provided toremove the air from the container prior to the filling operation.

Having thus described my invention, it will be obvious to those skilledin the art that various modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention. It is my intention that suchmodifications be included within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The method for filling a flexible container with fluid through :anopening therein comprising the steps of: sealing the filling opening ofthe container around the filling means by expanding a member into tightengagement with the portion of the container surrounding said openingwhile said container is collapsed and free from air; lifting and holdingthe container off its support by raising said expandable member; fillingsaid container through an opening in said expandable member; slowlylowering said container to its support by lowering said expandablemember; and releasing said expandable memher from engagement with thefiller opening.

2. A fluid filling apparatus of the class described comprising a fillingv-alve having a fluid inlet port and a fluid discharge port, a valvemember movable to open and close the discharge port of said fillingvalve, an airoperated actuator operatively connected to said valvemember, an inflatable device aflixed around the discharge port of saidfilling valve, a first air supply line connected to said actuatonasecond air supply line connected to said inflatable device, normallyclosed valves in said air supply lines, means to open-the valve in saidsecond air line, and means responsive to a pre-set pressure in saidinflatable device to open the valve in said first air line to operatesaid actuator and thereby move the valve member to open said dischargeport. 7

3. A device for filling a flexible container having an opening therein,said device comprising a filling valve, an elongated discharge nozzle onsaid valve having a discharge opening at its end, a valve member in saidfilling nozzle and having connected thereto a valve rod to open andclose said'discharge opening, valve opening means operatively connectedto said valve rod to actuate said rod and cause discharge of fillingfluid from said nozzle, a sleeve telescopically mounted and movable onthe exterior wall of said nozzle, means to move said sleeve up and downon said nozzle from a lowest position near the end of said nozzle, anexpandable member mounted on the exterior wall of said sleeve andmovable therewith, said member being expandable so as to engage "andhold the inside walls of said container around theopening therein, meansto inflate the expandable member to'a predetermined pressure that issuflicient to hold and suspend the weight of the container, and meansresponsive to said predetermined pressure in the inflatable member toactuate the sleeve moving means and the valve openmg means.

4. The device of claim 3 in whichthe valve opening means is a two-way,air-operated actuator operatively Inflatable member 28 will prevent airfrom en- 7 connected to said sleeve to move said sleeve and expandablemember up and down on said discharge nozzle during the filling of thecontainer.

5. A fluid filling apparatus for filling a flexible container having anopening therein, said apparatus comprising a filling device having fluidinlet and discharge ports, valve means operative to open and close saiddischarge port, an air-operated actuator operatively connected to saidvalve means to control movement of said valve means, an inflatablebladder mounted on the exterior wall of said discharge port, saidinflatable bladder being expandable so as to engage and seal the insidewalls of said flexible container around the opening therein, means toinflate said bladder to a predetermined pressure sufiicient to seal theopening in said container, and means responsive to said predeterminedpressure in said bladder to operate said actuator and open said valvemeans thereby providing for flow of filling fluid from said dischargeport.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,195,516 Shields Aug. 22, 1916 1,546,360 Bates July 21, 1925 1,657,792Drees et a1. Jan. 31, 1928 1,667,930 Edmunds May 1, 1928 2,107,987Johnson Feb. 8, 1938 2,156,224 Neu-rnan et a1. Apr. 24, 1939 2,178,494Richardson Oct. 31, 1939 2,362,793 Ay-ars Nov. 14, 1944 2,756,906 CarterJuly 31, 1956 2,832,378 Beavon Apr. 29, 1958 2,852,045 Goodner Sept. 16,1958 2.8531105 Brown Sept. 23. 1958

